'Spiritual but not religious'??? (36)

What's that?

Actually, I was wondering about that myself.

Both could denote a belief in a higher power in some way. Although I have to admit that in my narrow mindedness, I always associated spirituality with mysticism – my little brains couldn’t handle that.

What is exactly the difference between being spiritual and being religious?

Was wondering what would happen if “devil worshipper” was ever included as an option in the “religion” section.

As I see it and very very simplified (from my very limited knowledge of all religions) and please don't all jump down my throat it's a very difficult thing to explain without generalising and I don't wish to hurt or upset anyone.

Spiritual: believe in some form of "Higher" Devine Source or Power. Be it God or just an energy. It stands for all that is good and that is love in its purest form. Spiritual people tend to have higher awareness of "energies" generally. They can sense and sometimes see and feel things that the "average" person cannot. One could never advocate any form of "aggressive" act in the name of spirituality. It would be contrary to everything that it stands for, the attainment of enlightenment and unconditional love.

Religious: believes in some form of (may be) "man made" religion like Protestanism - which was invented by Henry VIII so that he could divorce his wives without needing to be-head them (I guess it must have got boring after a while) not withstanding all those hours he must have spent kneeling down in confession at the local Catholic Church saying "Ave Marias" so that he could be forgiven for his sins hahahaha! Anyway he got bored with all that so he invented Protestanism.
As far as I have experienced Catholicism is also a man made religion, I feel used many times as a "crowd control" tool including many attrocities and devastation. Those are but 2 examples of "man made religions". They usually advocate that one should attend a place of worship and they are also usually very mandatory as to the form of worship. They also advocate that "God" (who is usually male) would turn his back on anyone who has commited a "sin".
This is a very generalised description as Buddhism for instance does not fall into that category :-)

I think you are right on target in defining the difference between religious and spiritual as you have done. Religion has indeed to do with being faithful to a certain credo and while spiritual is 'being' something..like feeling our humanity more fully, of being lifted momentarily beyond ourselves. I think empathy and compassion is the stuff of the spiritual being.

Btw Buddha was totally indifferent to the theological beliefs of his followers. Buddhism as a religion and Buddha as a god came later long after him - a most man-made thing as you put it.

i thinks it just mean that you believe but not practice

Someone who believes in a particular faith but does not practise it is usually described as a "non practising + name of religion" I think

Why homer you are full of surprises!

Am I so bad really?

There's nothing bad with being full of surprises, especially when they are pleasant surprises as the lady meant. If I wore a hat I would doff it to you.